Montreal, QC — As I looked over the menu, the waitress tried to take my order in Cantonese. Since my knowledge of Cantonese is not fluent, I could not answer her. She then tried to take my order in French. Once again I could not answer her. Finally she spoke to me in English. “Dumb American, ” she probably thought as she took my order. That was my first experience in Montreal’s Chinatown more than 30 years ago, and I’ve been in love with this city ever since.
The Paris of North America is an easy city to explore, you don’t need a car because the best way to see Montreal is by walking, renting a bike or taking the excellent Metro system which is modeled after the Paris Subway.
If you come to Montreal in the fall or winter, take an underground walking tour. The underground is a network that connects many of Montreal’s buildings, cafes, restaurants, shopping centers and art installations. It is estimated that a half a million people a day use the underground network during cooler months. https://www.exploramontreal.com/
As is street and performance art.
During warmer months, locals and visitors love to gather at Mont Royal Park. The park was designed by Fredrick Law Olmstead, who also designed New York’s Central Park.
Mont Royal is a popular gathering place during warmer month.
A group practicing a dance.
View of the city from the top of Mont Royal.
Don’t forget to try a Montreal style bagel. Unlike New York bagels, Montreal bagels are thinner and sweeter, because they’re boiled in honey water, then baked in an open flame oven.
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